Leadership & Governance

Jamie has extensive experience in business management and performance improvement, tax planning and compliance, refinancing/bank negotiations and strategic planning. His career extends to professional services, manufacturing, import/export, property and primary production. Jamie is Managing Director of William Buck Adelaide, responsible for overall management and strategy of one of the largest locally owned and operated professional services firms. His current Board appointments include Deputy Chair, National Network of William Buck, Walford School and Redarc Electronics. Jamie joined the Guide Dogs SA/NT Board in May 2019.

Katie has experience in a variety of industries and roles, ranging from a multi-national organisation to family business in technical, sales and managerial roles. This business experience combined with field experience in extreme conditions has led to the acquisition of skills in project and risk management, logistics and working with third-world business partners. Katie was the first Australian woman to summit Mt Himlung (2009). In 2010, Katie became the first South Australian woman to summit Mt Everest. Katie is the only woman to have completed the seven Summits and seven Volcanic Summits. Director of Sarah Mountain Journeys, Katie joined the Guide Dogs SA/NT Board in May 2019.

Paul has significant experience in international stockbroking, business development in investment management and financial advising. He has provided expert financial and investment advice to private clients, charities, investment managers and institutional super funds. Paul has served on the boards of Parkinson’s SA and has been President and Treasurer of Parkinson’s Australia as well as chairing two of its committees. He has a Masters of Applied Finance and Investment, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics and has graduated from the AICD’s Company Directors Course. Paul also tutors at UniSA Online in the Bachelor of Business, teaching finance and investment subjects.

Sharyn Broer is the Chief Executive of Meals on Wheels in South Australia. Starting out as an occupational therapist, she held leadership roles at Domiciliary Care before becoming CEO of Meals on Wheels SA in 2010. She has been a Telstra Businesswoman of the Year finalist twice and contributed to the Aged Care Royal Commission, government advisory groups, industry alliances and peak bodies. Sharyn is an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate and Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders. She is past President of Meals on Wheels Australia, a member of the Aged and Community Care Providers Association State Member Council and has served on Guide Dogs SA/NT’s Services Delivery Committee since 2019. Sharyn joined the Guide Dogs SA/NT Board in October 2022.

Simone is the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of Tasmea Limited (ASX: TEA), a leading provider of specialised trade skilled services to the mining, resources and industrial sectors across Australia. Since joining in 2020, she has overseen the Group’s growth through multiple acquisitions, a successful IPO and the development of its financial reporting processes and corporate governance frameworks. A Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Simone began her career in Audit and Assurance with EY. She also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Equity & Advisory, is a Finance Committee Member at Eldercare and volunteers her financial expertise to community and sporting organisations. Simone joined the Guide Dogs SA/NT Finance Committee in 2024.

Professor Elizabeth Ann Farmer is a registered medical practitioner and Honorary Professor at three Australian universities. An independent consultant in the health sector, she has particular interest in innovation and systems change; policy and governance; accreditation; quality assurance; strategy and program evaluation; health sciences education and rural regional and remote health care issues. Currently, Professor Farmer also serves the Australian Medical Council as a Technical Advisor Research and Development, Chair of the National Prevocational Standards Accreditation Committee and member of the Board of Examiners. A recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Education at Flinders University, she also received the inaugural Heaslip Fellow Scholarship in Medical Education at Flinders.  Elizabeth joined the Guide Dogs SA/NT Board in December 2014.

Louise is the Executive Manager – Service Development with Autism SA. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Applied Chemistry, Post Graduate Certificate in Secondary Science and Inclusive Education, and Special Needs Education and is currently the Chair of Professional Practice Committee at Autism SA.

Professor Kumar is the Research Leader and Senior Lecturer at the International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, School of Health Sciences, at the University of South Australia. Professor Kumar has extensive academic, research and clinical experience in allied health and has received numerous grants, citations and awards for his work in evidence-based practice. He has particular expertise in quality and safety and collaborates nationally and internationally with numerous agencies on developing and implementing health care policy and practices.

John Herrmann has experience across diverse public service departments in the policing, health and housing sector. His career has been characterised by roles with strong regulatory and policy components (analytical and investigative) and a strong commitment to service quality. John was a member of the Guide Dogs SA/NT Consumer Reference Committee prior to joining the Guide Dogs SA/NT Board in August 2023.

Catherine is Chief Marketing Officer at Eckermann Group, and has over 20 years of experience in the advisory, data analytics and insights industry, helping to create innovative solutions and customer-centric products and services through deep consumer understanding. Catherine has worked in diverse markets across Asia Pacific, leading sales, operations, product, and general management functions for global companies. Catherine is also a Board member at Bendigo Community Bank Goodwood and Highgate, St Basil’s Homes SA (where she also chairs the Resident Experience Committee), as well as a committee member at Unley Football Club Inc and Sophie’s Legacy. She is a Justice of the Peace and Executive Coach with Behind Closed Doors.

Kate is a lawyer and experienced governance risk and compliance professional with over 20 years’ experience working across the private and public sectors, most recently with Women’s and Children’s Health Network. Kate commenced serving on the Guide Dogs SA/NT Board and the Governance and Risk Committee in 2023, lending her cross-sector experience in the development and execution of risk, governance and strategic objectives. She is dedicated to supporting Guide Dogs SA/NT engage with people with vision impairment, children with autism and their families. Kate was drawn to Guide Dogs SA/NT as an organisation with a strong reputation and connection to community that has a positive impact and provides value for its clients through enabling independence and confidence. In addition to her work in risk management, Kate runs a naturopathy practice providing therapeutic support to assist adults and children achieve their optimal health.

Paul has significant experience in international stockbroking, business development in investment management and financial advising. He has provided expert financial and investment advice to private clients, charities, investment managers and institutional super funds. Paul has served on the boards of Parkinson’s SA and has been President and Treasurer of Parkinson’s Australia as well as chairing two of its committees. He has a Masters of Applied Finance and Investment, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Economics and has graduated from the AICD’s Company Directors Course.

As a Human Resource consultant, Jo has extensive experience across various sectors, including in the not-for-profit space. Jo has served on several Boards and Committees, she currently serves on the Adelaide University Animal Ethics Committee, the Optometry Board of Australia Registration Notification Committee and the Policy and Education Committee, and is the Company Secretary for the June Canavan Foundation. Currently, Jo is a sole practitioner at her HR Consulting Business, PB Performance and Development. Jo holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management and is also an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate. Jo has also represented Australia as a vision-impaired down-hill ski racer.

Sharyn Broer is the Chief Executive of Meals on Wheels in South Australia. Starting out as an occupational therapist, she held leadership roles at Domiciliary Care before becoming CEO of Meals on Wheels SA in 2010. She has been a Telstra Businesswoman of the Year finalist twice and contributed to the Aged Care Royal Commission, government advisory groups, industry alliances and peak bodies. Sharyn is an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate and Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders. She is past President of Meals on Wheels Australia, a member of the Aged and Community Care Providers Association State Member Council and has served on Guide Dogs SA/NT’s Services Delivery Committee since 2019. Sharyn joined the Guide Dogs SA/NT Board in October 2022.

Darren Blight KC is a highly respected senior barrister with over 30 years legal experience. He is the head of Nexus Chambers in Adelaide. Mr Blight KC has held various board and executive posts over the years, including with the South Australian Bar Association. Mr Blight KC was appointed to the Board in late November 2025 and brings to the role strong governance capability, legal rigour and extensive knowledge of Guide Dogs SA/NT as a long-standing member and supporter.